PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Humberto Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Andre Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julio Andre Souza will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cooke
vs
Andre Souza

168 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Andre Souza!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souza looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cooke!
Souza working the ground and pound but Cooke is defending the strikes.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Cooke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Souza controls the position.
Cooke can't do much from the bottom here.
Cooke wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza tries to score with some ground and pound. Cooke controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.

Cooke explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Souza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Souza lands in his opponent's guard.

Cooke has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Cooke has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cooke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cooke is one step ahead there.
Cooke could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cooke throwing strikes from guard but Souza blocks nicely.
Souza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cooke.
Cooke stops Souza from standing up.
Souza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cooke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cooke's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Souza has his foot on Cooke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cooke works his way back into a safe position though.
Cooke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cooke lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Cooke from controlling successfully.
Cooke chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza looks winded!
Cooke throws a strike but Souza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cooke is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Cooke is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Souza presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Souza prevents Cooke from breaking the clinch.

Cooke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souza feints and as Cooke raises his hands in defense, Souza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cooke looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cooke wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooke is controlling Souza's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julio Andre Souza will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cooke gets caught napping as Souza dives in and scores a takedown. Cooke manages to retain guard.
Souza won't allow Cooke to sweep him here.
Souza prevents Cooke from getting back to his feet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cooke holds on and takes a little breather.
Cooke is looking to stand up but Souza isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Cooke is retaining full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke shoots for a double leg takedown but Souza sprawls well. He's pushed Cooke's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza misses with a few strikes there.
Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cooke throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.

Souza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza wants to take a breather but Cooke manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Souza.
Cooke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cooke wants to stand but Souza is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is controlling Souza's posture.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cooke has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Souza has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Cooke lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Souza.

Cooke manages to break the clinch.

Cooke looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Souza!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cooke remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke cracks Souza with a big right hand but Souza just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cooke creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Souza sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Souza can't do much from the bottom here.
Cooke lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cooke lands some shots froms side control.
Cooke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Souza is trying to control Cooke's posture but Cooke avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke wants to control but Souza is keeping him busy.
Cooke lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cooke lands a few punches from side control.
Souza tries to improve position but can't.
Cooke throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooke tries to score with some ground and pound. Souza controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cooke lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Souza down.

Cooke working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Cooke dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Souza as Cooke shoots in.

Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Souza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cooke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke is looking to improve his position.
Cooke wants to stand back up but Souza manages to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Cooke works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Souza wants to stand up but Cooke is controlling the position.

Cooke makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Souza gets the takedown into side control.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cooke wants to control but Souza is keeping busy.
Cooke wants to get back to his feet.
Souza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cooke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Souza wanted to stand there but Cooke had control of the position.
Souza trying to control but Cooke is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt.

Souza shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cooke's guard.
Cooke lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cooke sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cooke trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke stays in close to Souza's body and controls the position.
Souza trying to keep a closed guard but Cooke is proving a slippery customer.
Cooke is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooke scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Andre Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Souza has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!